Selective punch

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for producing variable, information-bearing patterns of perforations on parking lot tickets comprises an array of punches and an assembly of electrically selectable interposers which is movable as a unit whereby selected interposers operate corresponding punches. The interposers are arranged in layers, each layer of interposers being associated with a different row of punches. The interposers are guided in slots formed in individual blocks of an assembly of blocks, and are operated by solenoids mounted on circuit boards which are slidable into a mounting so that the circuit boards and interposers can be readily replaced. Maloperation of the solenoids produces an electrical signal by means of armatureoperated switches utilizing foil elements on the circuit board as contacts.

United States Patent 91 Woodie [541 SELECTIVE PUNCH [75] Inventor: Paul E. Woodie, Baltimore, Md.

[73] Assignee: American Totalisator Company,

Inc., Towson, Md.

[22] Filed: Nov. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 304,195

[52] US. Cl. 234/115, 234/116 [51] Int. Cl. G06k 1/02 [58] Field of Search 234/115, 116

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,263,914 8/1966 Huber ..234/ll5X Primary Examiner-J. M. Meister Attorney-George A. Smith, Jr.

m1 3,780,939 Dec. 25, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for producing variable, informationbearing patterns of perforations on parking lot tickets comprises an array of punches and an assembly of electrically selectable interposers which is movable as a unit whereby selected interposers operate corresponding punches. The interposers are arranged in layers, each layer of interposers being associated with a different row of punches. The interposers are guided in slots formed in individual blocks of an assembly of blocks, and are operated by solenoids mounted on circuit boards which are slidable into a mounting so that the circuit boards and interposers can be readily replaced. Maloperation of the solenoids produces an electrical signal by means of armature-operated switches utilizing foil elements on the circuit board as contacts.

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SELECTIVE-PUNCH BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION .:cluding information concerning the time at which .a

.customerenters.aparking lot, is punched into a ticket .asthecarentersithe loteso that it'may be read out readily' byiphotoelectric,mechanical, or.electromechanical :meansas the automobile is about to leave the parking lot. Automatic calculation of thecharge can then be :made with thesubstantial elimination of human error.

lln ordertopunch variable information-, such as time information, on aticket, it is desirable touse an electrical control, and this requires extraordinary precautions .inorder to achieve-satisfactory reliability. Theproblem of-reliability is compounded 'by the need for a substantial numberof independentlycontrolled punching elements and by the.factthatthepunching elements must bearranged in a sufficiently small space to punch information on a'small ticket.

'Also,"because.ofthenature of the application ofthe invention, it is desirableathat the ticket punching apparatus becapable of rapid repair should a malfunction occur.

The punchingapparatus should be adapted for oper- .ation inconjunction with a-ticket issuing machine so :that.tickets can be issued and punched in a single customerinitiated operation.

The-punching apparatus should also insure that the 'holeszpunched on the ticket are accurately aligned and spaced with respect to -.each other in order to avoid readingerrorswhich might otherwise occur in the automatic reading means atfthe parking lot exit.

:Finally,-the machine should automaticallyprovide an indication of maloperation of the'electrical controls, andprefera'bly should beset up to prevent the'issuance :of a'faulty ticket in the..event of a malfunction in the electrical controls.

his the object'of this invention to satisfy the above requirements. In brief, .this is accomplished by the use :of a movable, unitary assembly of solenoid-operated interposers arranged on printed circuit boards in layers, each .=layer being associated with a different row of :punches. The interposersare guided in slots which are formed in the surfaces of blocks which fit together to constitute .amova'ble guide block. A plurality of mod- -ules,;each consisting of :a circuit board, solenoids and .interposers, are separately slidable into retaining slots 'whichengage-the-edges of-the circuit board so that the modules can bereadily removed and replaced. The entire punch assembly is readily moved for punching operation by .means of acam driven by the operating mechanism of the associated ticket issuing machine. Very exact alignment and spacing of the punched holes with respect to each other is assured by the design of the punching mechanismrso that all of the information- *bearingrholes in a ticket are punched in one punching cuitry so that malfunctions of the solenoids eitherby reason of their failure to operate'or by'reason of their failure to return after operation to their-normalconditionare indicated by the circuitry associated-with-the switches. The switches utilize foil elements on the circuit board as contacts.

Various other-objects of the invention will be'apparent from-the following description when read in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the selective punch in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section showing a punch ele ment and the die associated therewith;

FIG. 3 is anelevation showing a cam and switch operated thereby for producing a control signal for'effecting punch selection;

FIG.-4 is a perspective view of the punch assembly;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the upper part of the punch assembly as viewed from the side opposite that shown in-FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a section taken at the plane 66 inFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the uppermost slotted block of the interposer guide bloc-k assembly;

FIGS. 8, 9, l0 and 11 are bottom plan views of the successively lower slotted blocks of the interposer .guideblock assembly;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of an interposer module showing the circuit'board, the solenoids and interposers operatedthereby;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of the module of FIG. 12;

FIG. l4 is aperspective view ofa movable switch element adapted to the armature of a solenoid;

FIG. 15 is a partial plan view ofa circuit board showing the fixedelements of the switches operated by the solenoid armatures;

FIG. '16 is a schematic diagram of the switching'circuitry; and

'FIG. 17 is an elevation of a parking'lot ticket having an information-bearing .pattern of perforations of the kindproduced by thepunch in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION For theunderstanding of the arrangement of parts in the selective punch, reference will be made to rows, columns, and layers. These terms are referred to the plane defined by the ticket beingpunched so that rows and 'columns extend substantially perpendicular to each other and in directions parallel to the ticket plane. "Layers are substantially parallel to the ticket plane, and each layer extends in two dimensions. The row-wise direction" is parallel to the rows; the columnwise direction is parallel tothe columns; and the layerwise direction is perpendicular to the layers.

In the particular embodiment of the invention described herein', which is built into a ticket issuing machine, ticket stock moves through the punch in the row-wise direction, whichdirection is in the plane of FIG. 1 and extends from the upper right to the lower left portion of the figure. Ticket stock enters space 18 between die 20 and punch guide 22 at opening 24, the

ticket stock being moved by the conventional feeding mechanism (not shown) of the ticket issuing machine.

The punch elements are arranged in five parallel rows extending parallel to the plane of FIG. 1, the near row of punch elements being indicated generally at 26 underneath cover 28 which is fastened to the punch guide. Each of the punch elements is slidably mounted in a guide hole and aligned with an opening in the die. FIG. 2 shows a typical punch element 30 located in guide hole 32 and aligned with die opening 34. Coil spring 36, which surrounds punch element 30 bears against guide 22 and punch element head 38 to maintain the operative end 39 of the punch element normally in the raised condition and separated from die so that space 18 is clear. All of the remaining punch elements are similar to punch element 30 with the exception that their lengths may be varied so that in a single punching operation, the several selected punch elements do not cut the ticket stock simultaneously. Cover 28 (FIG. I) is provided with openings 40 which are aligned with the punch elements, and which are smaller than the punch element heads so that the punch elements are retained against upward movement. Openings 40, however, are large enough to provide clearance for movement therethrough of punch operating rods, the operating rods in the near row being indicated generally at 42. Each punch element has an operating rod aligned with it so that each operating rod and its associated punch element provide an individual punch which is operable by an interposer in the several layers of interposers located within interposer guide block assembly 44.

The guide block assembly 44 is' made up of a lower plate 46, a block 48, and slotted blocks 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58. Block 48, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, has an extension 60 having an internal passage 62. The uppermost slotted block 58 has a similar extension 64 having an opening 66. Rod 68 is secured between mounting 70 and punch guide 22, and extends through openings 62 and 66. Rod 68 constrains the guide block assembly to movement parallel to the axis of rod 68. The guide block assembly is constrained against rotation about rod 68 by the cooperation of fork-shaped extension 72 with guide member 74. The foregoing mountings for the guide block assembly insure against binding.

The guide block assembly is provided at its upper end with a roller mounting 74 which rotatably supports roller 76 which cooperates with cam 78. Cam 78 is rotated by shaft 80 which is geared to the drive mechanism of the ticket issuing machine with which the punch is associated. Operation of cam 78 produces downward movement of the guide block assembly. The guide block assembly is returned by coil spring 82 located underneath extension 60 of block 48. Shaft 80 also has mounted on it a cam 84 as shown in FIG. 3. Cam 84 operates microswitch 86 to close a circuit which transmits an electrical signal to control circuitry for initiating the selection of a particular combination of punches to be operated in the particular downward stroke of the guide block assembly 44 which takes place upon further rotation of shaft 80. The relationship of earns 78 and 84 is such that microswitch 86 is operated before the guide block assembly begins to move downwardly. Thus, there is sufficient time for the selection mechanism to be operated.

The blocks in guide block assembly 44 are bolted together. The individual blocks are shown in FIGS. 7

through 11 which show slots extending in the columnwise direction and rows of openings which in the final assembly form passageways which extend in the layerwise direction to provide clearance for the operating rods.

Each of blocks 58 and 56, shown respectively in FIGS. 7 and 8, has seven columnwise guide slots. The remaining blocks 54, 52 and 50 have nine guide slots each. The guide slots in blocks 58 and 56 are aligned, in the final assembly 44, with the guide slots on the right-hand sides of blocks 54, 52 and 50. The purpose of these guide slots is to allow columnwise movement of the interposers while restraining the interposers against movement with respect to each other in the row-wise and layerwise directions. The guide slots are machined on surfaces of the blocks before they are fastened together.

Block 58 has only one row of openings 88, there being one opening in each of the seven slots. Block 56 has two rows 90 and 92 of openings. Block 54 has three rows 94, 96 and 98. Block 52 has four rows 100, 102, 104 and 106. Block 50 has five rows 108, 110, 112, 114 and 116.

In the final assembly 44, rows 88, 90, 94, and 108 are aligned with each other to provide seven layerwise passages. Rows 92, 96, 102 and 110 are aligned with each other to provide a second row of seven layerwise passages. Rows 98, 104 and 112 of openings are aligned with each other to provide a third row of nine layerwise passages. Rows 106 and 114 are aligned with each other to provide a fourth row of nine layerwise passages. The openings in row 116 constitute a fifth row of nine layerwise passages.

The lowermost block 48 and plate 46 have openings which, although not illustrated, are similar to and aligned with the openings in block 50.

FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship between the five rows of operating rods with the slots in assembly 44 when the punch is at rest. Operating rod 128 of row 42 extends upwardly through opening 130 in plate 46 and openings 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140 in the blocks of guide block assembly 44. All of these openings are large enough to allow free movement of the guide block assembly relative to operating rod 128. The upper end of operating rod 128 is normally located just below slot 118 as shown in FIG. 6. An opening 142 is provided in block 58 so that, if operating rod 128 is not selected, the guide block assembly can move downwardly without depressing the operating rod.

Operating rod 144 extends through similar openings in plate 46 and blocks 48, 50, 52 and 54, terminating just below slot 120. Again, an opening 146 is provided for operating rod 144 in block 56. Block 56 is sufficiently thick that rod 144 cannot extend into slot 118 when the guide block assembly moves downwardly.

Operating rod 148 extends upwardly, terminating just below slot 122. Operating rod 150 extends upwardly, terminating just below slot 124 and operating rod 152 extends upwardly, terminating just below slot 126. Openings corresponding to 146 are provided in blocks 54, 52 and 50, and these blocks are made sufficiently thick so that unselected operating rods will not extend through the last-mentioned openings upon downward movement of the assembly.

The arrangement of the other operating rods and openings in thefirst seven columns is identical to that shown for the first column in FIG. 6. In the last two columns, operating rods corresponding to 128 and 144 are unnecessary; however, operating rods corresponding to rods 148, 150 and 152 are present and appropriate openings in the block .are provided for them. In each column, the operating rods are progressively longer from the first row to the last row so that the punches (which include the operating rods and the punch elements) in each column are progressively longer from the first row to the last row.

Returning to FIGS-4 and 5, the support assembly for the circuit boards comprises a pair of slotted support brackets 154 and 156 secured to opposite ends of guide block assembly 44. These support brackets have five pairs of opposed slots, that is one pair for each layer of interposers or one pair for each row of punches. Slots 158 and 160 are the slots for supporting the uppermost circuit board. Five circuit boards are used, one for each pair of opposed slots in the support brackets. The purpose of the slotted support brackets is to mount all of the interposers in the selective punch against row-wise and layerwise movement with respect to one another and for simultaneous movement in the layerwise direction so that any punch having an interposer in registry with it is moved into its corresponding die opening. The circuit boards are secured against columnwise movement in their slots by a plate (not shown) fastened between the ends of support brackets 154 and 156.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show typical circuit board 162 of the type used in the lower three layers. Edges 164 and 166 slide into the mounting slots.

On the circuit board there are mounted nine electro mechanical solenoids 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182 and 184. These solenoids operate a row 186 of nine interposers, preferably of nylon or similar plastic material adapted to slide readily in a slot. The interposers associated with solenoids 168-176 are identical, interposer 188, operated by the armature of solenoid 176, being typical. Electrical energization of solenoid 176 moves interposer 188 in the columnwise direction toward the left as viewed in FIGS. 12 and 13 and compresses coil spring 190 which effects return of the solenoid armature and of the interposer when solenoid 176 is deenergized.

Interposer 192 is connected through rod 194 to solenoid 184 and is operated in a manner similar to that just described for interposer 188. The return spring is indicated at 196. Solenoids 178, 180 and 182 are similarly connected to interposers. This arrangement of solenoids in two separate rows permits the interposers to be positioned more closely together in the row-wise direction.

The interposers in row 186 are all in line with each other and are all adapted to enter a row of slots in the guide block assembly when circuit board 162 is inserted into its supporting slots. The interposers have substantially rectangular cross-sections and fit into their corresponding slots in the guide block assembly in such a way that they are unable to rotate about their axes of movement. The interposers, of course, may be of any desirable cross-section but are preferably noncircular in order to avoid rotation.

The interposers shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 are of a length such as to make them suitable for insertion in the lowermost layer of slots in the guide block assembly, namely the slots in block 50. When extended by the action of their corresponding solenoids, they overlie the openings in row 116 (FIG. 11) butdo not reach the openings in row 114. v

The interposers are progressively longer in successive layers so that an interposer in any slot in any block normally clears all of the openings in its slots but is capable of overlying the first openingin a slot when it is extended. Thus, for each column of punches, there is a plurality of interposers arranged in layers, there being one layer for each punch in the column. Each interposer in each layer is adapted to move in the columnwise direction into and out of registry with a corresponding punch.

The circuit board, as shown in FIG. 12, has a tongue 198 for connection to a cable connector. Printed conductive elements 200, 202 and 204 are shown on the upper side of the circuit board. On the lower side of the circuit board, at the location of tongue 198, there are nine conductive elements, one for each solenoid. These nine conductors are connected by' means of through connections on the circuit board to conductors on the upper side of the circuit board. On the lower side of the circuit board, at the location of tongue 198, there are nine conductive elements, one for each solenoid. These nine conductors are connected by means of through connections on the circuit board to conductors on the upper side of the circuit board, four of which are shown in FIGS. 15 at 206, 208, 210 and 212. Adjacent each of conductors 206-212 is a conductor, three of which are located at 214, 216 and 218 in FIG. 15. These nine conductors are connected to the cathodes of diodes 220 (FIG. 12), the anodes of which are'connected in common to conductor 202. Common conductor 200jis provided with projecting conductive elements aligned with elements 206-212 in FIG. 15. These elements are exemplified by elements 222, 224, 226 and 228.

On each of the interposers there is mounted a metal spring element similar to element 230 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Spring element 230 has two arms 232 and 234. Arm 234 is always in contact with a conductive element 214 (FIG. 15). Arm 232 is normally in contact with a conductive element corresponding to conductive element 206. However, arm 232 clears conductive element 206 and contacts the conductive element corresponding to element 222 when the interposer to which it is attached is extended. The interposers are preferably of insulating material so that they do not short-circuit the spring elements to the metal of the guide block assembly.

The electrical circuitry corresponding to the circuit board shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is shown schematically in FIG. 16 wherein a positive DC voltage is applied to each of the solenoids through conductor 204 and wherein the solenoids may be energized bythe application of negative voltages to individual terminals of the group indicated at 236 or combinations thereof.

Each of terminals 236 is connected not only to a solenoid but also to output line 202 through normally closed contacts of a switch and through a diode in series with said normally closed contacts. The diodes are disposed with their cathodes connected to terminals 236 through the switch contacts and with their anodes connected in common to output conductor 202. Output conductor 200 is connected to normally open contacts of each of the switches.

If, when electrical energy is applied to one or more of terminals 236, and any one of the selected solenoids fail to operate, a negative signal will appear in conductor 202. This negative signal may be used to inhibit the ticket issuing machine to prevent the issuance of a ticket carrying erroneous information. The diodes prevent negative voltages from being fed to solenoids other than those selected.

If, as a result of a previous operation, the armature of any solenoid remains held in the selected position by reason of friction, for example, conductor 202 will be connected through one of the switches to conductor 200. The malfunction can be determined easily by the application, prior to operation of the punch, of a positive pulse to conductor 202 or of a negative pulse to conductor 200, and detecting the pulse at the opposite conductor.

FIG. 7 shows a punched and cut ticket 238 which has been punched with typical information for a parking lot. Certain punches of the array have been operated in punching ticket 238 and others have not.

In row 240, columns 250 and 254 have been punches. In row 242, all of the columns except columns 254 and 260 have been punched. In row 244, columns 250, 256, 262 and 266 have been punched. In row 246, columns 258, 260 and 266 have been punched. In row 248, columns 254, 256 and 264 have been punched.

The punched holes in ticket 238 may carry any desired variable information in any of a great number of binary codes. The ticket shown is a parking lot ticket which carries information in several different categories in binary-coded decimal form.

The combination of punched holes in row 248, columns 260, 258, 256 and 254 identify the entrance lane in a multiple-lane parking lot. In this case, the lane identified is lane number 10.

The combination of punched holes in row 248, columns 262, 264 and 266 represents a sequential numher which in this case is the number 2. The sequential numbers count to 7, the count increasing by one for each ticket which is issued in a given minute. The sequential number, taken together with time information elsewhere on the ticket establish a unique identification number for each automobile which enters the parking lot.

The combination of punched holes in row 246, columns 254 and 256 constitute a facility code" which identifies the particular parking lot involved. In this case, the parking lot is parking lot number 0.

The day of theyear is represented by three binarycoded decimal digits, the first digit being found in row 246, columns 258 and 260, the second digit being found in row 246, columns 262, 264 and 266 and in row 244, column 250, and the third digit being found in row 244, columns 252, 254, 256 and 258. On ticket 238 the punched holes represent the 332 day of the year.

The time of the day is similarly represented by four binary-coded decimal digits in the remaining columns of row 244 and in all of row 242. The time represented in the case of ticket 238 is 1737 or :37 RM.

The punched holes in row 240 are so called line up" holes which are used in the ticket reader to make sure that the ticket is in the proper position as it moves through the reader when reading takes place.

Row 240 may also carry check bits if desired to insure against errors.

The invention has the advantage that all of the moving parts of the selective punch move as a unit in the punching direction, thus eliminating the need for complex linkages and greatly simplifying the structure and increasing the reliability of the mechanism. In addition, the circuit board and interposer assemblies are readily replaceable in the event of a malfunction. The selective punch in accordance with the invention is specially adapted for use in a conventional ticket issuing machine, there being required only relatively simple modifications to accomplish the punching motion and to produce an electrical signal for initiating operation of the interposer control circuitry. Finally, the use of circuit board-mounted interposer driving solenoids permits the convenient production of error signals by means of slide switches formed by conductive elements on the interposer which cooperate with conductive elements on the circuit boards.

Numerous modifications can be made in the number and arrangement of interposers and punching elements and in other aspects of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

I. Apparatus for producing a variable, informationbearing pattern of perforations on a ticket comprising a die having a plurality of punch receiving openings arranged in a pattern of rows and columns,

a plurality of punches arranged in corresponding rows and columns, each having an operative end adapted to be moved into one of said openings to produce perforations in a ticket, in each column the punches being progressively longer from a first row to alast row,

means for maintaining said die and punches in separated relationship to provide a space for the insertion of a ticket between them,

a plurality of interposers for each column of punches, the interposers for each column being arranged in layers, there being one layer for each punch in the column, and each interposer in each layer being adapted to move in the columnwise direction into and out of registry with a corresponding punch,

means for mounting all of said interposers for simultaneous movement in the layerwise direction so that any punch having an interposer in registry with it is moved into its corresponding die opening, and

means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for mounting all of said interposers comprises means providing a plurality of guide slots, one for each interposer, said guide slots allowing columnwise movement of said interposers, but restraining said interposers against movement with respect to one another in the row-wise and layerwise directions.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for mounting all of said interposers comprises a block comprising a plurality of component blocks fastened together, each of said component blocks having columnwise slots in one of its surfaces which engages an adjacent block, said slots forming guide passages for interposers, and said blocks having layerwise passages for receiving the punches.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers, and in which said means for mounting all of said interposers comprises means providing a plurality of guide slots, one for each interposer, said guide slots allowing columnwise movement of said interposers, but restraining said interposers against movement with respect to one another in the row-wise and layerwise directions, and means providing a plurality of pairs of opposed mounting slots extending in the columnwise direction, said mounting slots being adapted to support said circuit boards against row-wise and layerwise movement with respect to one another,

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers, and switch means mounted on said circuit board, said switch means comprising a plurality of switches, one for each solenoid and each switch being I operable by the armature of its solenoid whereby the condition of each switch provides an electrical signal indicating the condition of the corresponding armature.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and'each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers, a plurality of conductors one connected to each solenoid on at least one of said circuit boards for selectively applying electrical power to the solenoids, normally closed switch means operable by the armature of each solenoid and having one terminal connected to the conductor for applying power to the solenoid, a common output line for conducting an error signal, a plurality of diodes, each connected between said common output line and one of the opposite terminals of one of the switch means, said diodes being connected to conduct current from said conductors to said common line when any solenoid fails to operate upon being energized and to isolate the solenoids from said common output line.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers, and a switch associated with each armature, each switch comprising at least one conductive element on the circuit board and a spring element fixed to its corresponding armature and bearing against said conductive element, each switch being operable by its corresponding armature whereby the condition of each switch provides an electrical indication ofthe condition of its corresponding armature. 

1. Apparatus for producing a variable, information-bearing pattern of perforations on a ticket comprising a die having a plurality of punch receiving openings arranged in a pattern of rows and columns, a plurality of punches arranged in corresponding rows and columns, each having an operative end adapted to be moved into one of said openings to produce perforations in a ticket, in each column the punches being progressively longer from a first row to a last row, means for maintaining said die and punches in separated relationship to provide a space for the insertion of a ticket between them, a plurality of interposers for each column of punches, the interposers for each column being arranged in layers, there being one layer for each punch in the column, and each interposer in each layer being adapted to move in the columnwise direction into and out of registry with a corresponding punch, means for mounting all of said interposers for simultaneous movement in the layerwise direction so that any punch having an interposer in registry with it is moved into its corresponding die opening, and means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for mounting all of said interposers comprises means providing a plurality of guide slots, one for each interposer, said guide slots allowing columnwise movement of said interposers, but restraining said interposers against movement with respect to one another in the row-wise and layerwise directions.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for mounting all of said interposers comprises a block comprising a plurality of component blocks fastened together, each of said component blocks having columnwise slots in one of its surfaces which engages an adjacent block, said slots forming guide passages for interposers, and said blocks having layerwise passages for receiving the punches.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected intErposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers, and in which said means for mounting all of said interposers comprises means providing a plurality of guide slots, one for each interposer, said guide slots allowing columnwise movement of said interposers, but restraining said interposers against movement with respect to one another in the row-wise and layerwise directions, and means providing a plurality of pairs of opposed mounting slots extending in the columnwise direction, said mounting slots being adapted to support said circuit boards against row-wise and layerwise movement with respect to one another.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers, and switch means mounted on said circuit board, said switch means comprising a plurality of switches, one for each solenoid and each switch being operable by the armature of its solenoid whereby the condition of each switch provides an electrical signal indicating the condition of the corresponding armature.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers, a plurality of conductors one connected to each solenoid on at least one of said circuit boards for selectively applying electrical power to the solenoids, normally closed switch means operable by the armature of each solenoid and having one terminal connected to the conductor for applying power to the solenoid, a common output line for conducting an error signal, a plurality of diodes, each connected between said common output line and one of the opposite terminals of one of the switch means, said diodes being connected to conduct current from said conductors to said common line when any solenoid fails to operate upon being energized and to isolate the solenoids from said common output line.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for effecting columnwise movement of selected interposers comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each board corresponding to a row of punches, and each having mounted thereon a plurality of electromechanical solenoids having armatures arranged to move in the columnwise direction, each armature being arranged to effect columnwise movement of one of said interposers, and a switch associated with each armature, each switch comprising at least one conductive element on the circuit board and a spring element fixed to its corresponding armature and bearing against said conductive element, each switch being operable by its corresponding armature whereby the condition of each switch provides an electrical indication of the condition of its corresponding armature. 